Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the Family for Parents ...

Purpose of this Booklet
When someone at home has been
diagnosed with post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), the whole family
will be affected. If you are parents with
young children (pre-school to 12 years)
and if you or your spouse/partner has
PTSD, this booklet is for you. It will
provide both of you with information
to help you recognize how your children
might be affected and what to do about
it. It will also alert you to the potential
signs of excessive stress in your children
and suggest ways you can help to protect
your children from disruptions in family
life.
How to Use this Booklet
It is important that you and your partner
work together to understand and use the
ideas in this booklet depending on your
particular family situation. There is no
one right way to do this as people learn
in different ways. You may wish to read
short sections together and talk about
how it might apply to your situation;
or you may choose to read the booklet
from cover to cover separately and then
together discuss ways this information
can be of help to your family. Do what
works for you and proceed at your own
pace. As with other family matters, open
and respectful communication is the key
to success.
As you come to understand the
information presented here, you will be
able to identify things that you can do
www.vac-acc.gc.ca
to support your children and each other
in dealing with the impacts of PTSD
on family life. Remember, in taking
action, set modest goals to ensure success
and avoid disappointments. Treat these
action goals as an experiment and learn
what works for your family from each
goal you set for yourselves. Celebrate
your successes! Then build on small
successes by returning to the booklet to
help decide on another action goal that
will benefit your family.
If at any time, you are unable to manage
your child’s reactions and behaviours, or
if you are experiencing intense emotions
such as fear, anger, depression, problems
at work, intimacy, or substance abuse
problems, seek professional help.
What is PTSD
PTSD is a psychological response to the
experience of intense traumatic events,
particularly those that threaten life.
For military personnel the trauma may
relate to direct combat duties, being in
a dangerous war zone, or taking part
in peacekeeping missions under very
difficult and stressful conditions. PTSD
can affect people of any age, rank,
culture or gender.
PTSD is characterized by three main
groups of problems. They can be
classified under the headings of intrusive,
avoidance and arousal symptoms. These
symptoms cause intense distress and
can result in other emotions such as